Let’s start this list with a small trip back in time, to the year 2002 when Pita Ten was airing on Japanese TVs. As it is often the case, we have an average student who leads a normal life only troubled by exam stress and adolescent life. Everything changes for Kotaro when a strange girl knocks on his door and asks to be his friend. He agrees, but it soon turns out that Misha, as she is called, is in fact an angel in training and is doing her best to become an expert in her field. Pita Ten is an adorable show that is aimed towards kids, but also entertains older viewers. It has a nostalgic feel to it and will give you a mix of Shounen, comedy, romance and fantasy. Don’t expect too much of a plot here: Pita Ten relies on independent episodes that feature the everyday adventures of the main cast. Our first recommendation!

Next up is another pre-2010 show that will bring you back in time. Goro is a kind-hearted and hardworking man, but luck just isn’t on his side. His workplace goes bankrupt and he finds himself without money or any plans for the future. At his wit’s end he visits a fortune teller who tells him that luck will soon come his way. That is when three mysterious girls appear in front of him and tell him they are his new guardian angels. Angel Tales is an underrated show, even though it was popular enough to get a second season. Right now, I would recommend it to all fans of old-school Shoujo and Magical Girl anime. The interaction between the girls - all in all 12 girls will enter Goro’s life - and our hero is the main focus of the show and the producers did a great job at keeping these encounters entertaining. Check it out when you get the chance!

You like angels, but you enjoy romance even more? Our next recommendation can give you both! The galaxy is in danger and the only hope is an old prophecy: a young girl will become the legendary "Etoile" and save everyone. After looking for this girl far and wide, country girl Angelique seems to be the chosen one. With nine male guardians by her side she has to embark on a journey to fulfill the prophecy and safe her country. Koisuru Tenshi Angelique’s interpretation of angels is more unique and maybe doesn’t have a great influence on the overall storyline. This recommendation goes out to everyone who enjoys angels, but does not want them to be the main focus. Especially fans of Reverse Harem and romance shows will have a good time. Angelique even has a second season so there are more than enough episodes out there to keep you entertained.

Angels are not only part of fantasy universes. Sometimes they appear in mecha shows featuring modern technologies and deadly weapons. The story of Sousei no Aquarion begins with an eternal fight between angels and humans. The humans were able to win in the past, but the angels have never forgotten their defeat. Now they are coming back and this time they kidnap humans to drain their life energy. Only if the ultimate weapon of mankind “Aquarion” comes back and fights the angel race once more will humans be able to survive. Sousei no Aquarion has its own unique interpretation of angels. As you can see, in this show they aren’t kind beings sent to help you when you are in danger. Rather, they are the ultimate enemy of mankind and must be destroyed. This anime will certainly be appreciated by all fans of Mecha and Action since it does a good job at creating a Sci-Fi universe. If you like any of these genres definitely give it a try.

Angels are often seen as lonely beings, but this show adds a nice spin to it by introducing a whole family of gods. Samatarou might look like an average high school boy, but he is in fact the son of gods and he and his siblings are training to become gods themselves. Their job on earth is to familiarize themselves with the needs and customs of humans so that they will excel at their future duties. But Samatarou is not alone on his mission: by his side is angel girl Tenko who was sent to keep an eye on him. Their lives become even crazier when Samatarou falls in love with a transfer student and is determined to make her feel the same. Kamisama Kazoku is a great feel-good show that deserves more recognition. Especially its storyline is well thought out, moves along at a good pace and does not leave any questions unanswered at the end. Of course, the whole setup of the show, with the children of gods and angels sent from above, is already interesting enough. Kamisama Kazoku should be on your must-watch list if you are a fan of fantasy, comedy and romance.

Completely hilarious and exceptionally weird anime are almost always a success. So why not throw an angel into the mix? Junior high student Kusakabe Sakura is fed up with the state of the world and invents immortality so that girls stop aging after the age of 12. Of course, God isn’t happy with this turn of events so he sends an angel from the future to kill Sakura before he can make this invention. But the good-hearted angel has a different plan; she simply keeps Sakura too occupied with her crazy personality to create anything. Get ready for their story! This OVA series split in two parts is obviously not meant to be taken serious and that is exactly the charm of this show. It is a parody of Magical Girl anime and uses a lot of blood, Ecchi scenes and similar obscenities to get their desired effect. It is true that it is a mindless story with questionable humor, but it is one of the most creative uses of angels in anime, so if that’s what you are looking for you have found the perfect show.

Who says angels cannot be combined with Ecchi? Sora no Otoshimono is here to show you how. Sakurai Tomoki is your average high school boy, with the exception that he has a recurring dream of an angel falling to earth. He doesn’t attach much meaning to it since his life motto is “peace and quiet are the best”. This might change, however, when an actual angel falls from the sky and becomes part of his life. How will their story continue? Sora no Otoshimono is highly appreciated because of its humor which slowly but surely turns more random and hilarious as the story goes along. It might start out as a somewhat serious attempt at a show revolving around angels, but soon it becomes a great comedy Ecchi show. If you are looking for a more light-hearted story that will make you laugh, this is the one to go for.

Imagine a phone call service that will send you magical assistance whenever you are in need. What sounds like a dream becomes reality in Ah! My Goddess. College life turns out to be much different from what Keiichi Morisato had in mind. He isn’t successful in his classes, in love or life in general. But help isn’t too far away! When he picks up the receiver to make a phone call a strange voice answers with "Goddess Help Line". This is the beginning of a completely new College experience. Ah! My Goddess is a great comedy, fantasy and romance show that brings together an awkward College student and a beautiful winged angel. There aren’t any Ecchi scenes, so don’t expect that form of entertainment, but what you will get instead is a solid storyline with more than just a few twists and turns. This show is recommended by a lot of people, so if the summary has caught your interest you should definitely check it out.

As we are getting closer to our top choice, we have one more highly recommended show that has more than just a few fans. Niwa Daisuke’s worst nightmare becomes reality: he finally confesses his love to his crush, but gets turned down immediately. To make matters worse, strange things start happening to his body whenever he thinks about her. Slowly he turns into a legendary phantom thief known as Dark Mousy and thus must continue the legacy that is written in his blood. D.N. Angel seems weird and too over-the-top at first. But you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! As the story progresses, more mysteries are uncovered and more questions arise and soon enough you will sit at the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. It is a story with innocent romance and fantasy elements and certainly deserves you giving it a try.

Last but not least we have Haibane Renmei as our top recommendation for anime featuring angels. Rakka dreams of falling from the sky and then being born. Wings start growing on her back, a halo is placed on her head and she is told to live in the nearby town of Grie. Haibane Renmei tells her story of Rakka who tries to learn more about the town’s people as well as herself and her unknown past. Many people call Haibane Renmei a piece of art, created by Yoshitoshi Abe who has a more than unique style. It is a slow and mysterious story that features a little bit of Slice of Life and a little bit of drama. The appeal of this show is hard to define since it comes from the overall atmosphere created through the drawings, the characters and the pace of the story. Check out Haibane Renmei even if you are not a fan of angels - you will not be disappointed.